Two area football teams will get as early a start at practicing in pads as allowed Thursday at midnight. Atkins and Dardanelle will both host "Midnight Madness-"style practices, and the public is invited for a sneak peek of what the upcoming season may offer.

Dardanelle's Coach Josh Price said the Sand Lizards will arrive around 10 p.m. tonight to begin lifting weights and around 11:45 p.m. will adjourn to the locker room to strap on their pads.

"We'll go through some hitting drills and then we're going to have about an hour-and-a-half scrimmage," Price said.

First-year Atkins coach Tommy Cody said the Red Devils will take the field in pads at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.

"We're going to go out and run into each other a little bit with pads on," Cody said.

Cody said the team will do some 3-on-3 work and some blocking and running.

"We're not going to go an extended period of time for this first one," he said.

Price said the community was invited to get an introduction to the team.

"We'll have hot dogs, and it's going to be a real festive atmosphere," Price said. "In years past, we've had fireworks. I don't know what the parents have planned this year, but I'm sure it's going to be really something."

Beginning at 2 a.m., the event will become a lock-in of sorts for players and coaches.

"We'll have Laser Tag. There will be a big screen TV they can play video games on. We'll have a water slide. It's always fun for the coaches and the players. We work their tails off. We should let them have some fun at least once," Price said.

Then the Sand Lizards will practice again at 7:30 a.m. Thursday morning.

"It'll be interesting," Price said. "We won't sleep a wink and then get back to practicing at 7:30. I'm not sure how that'll go yet, but with 108 degree temperatures, we can't practice in the afternoons like we normally do. But we'll work on some technique stuff and keep that practice short and sweet."

Cody was also interested in his team having a good time.

"We'll have two weeks straight of hard work. We try to give them something to look forward to," he said.

Cody said he didn't know what kind of turnout to expect for the Red Devils' first midnight practice.

"It's something new," Cody said. "But this is something for the kids to try to build a little excitement. ... It may be just the players and coaches, but I'm sure some mommas and daddies will come out, too."